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Tar Heels cruise in opener

CHAPEL HILL — You know it’s going to be your kind of night when two players score career highs — in the first half.

It was that kind of game for North Carolina.

J.P. Tokoto and Marcus Paige achieved that in the 81-64 rout of Oakland in the first game of the college basketball season.

The 12th-ranked Tar Heels began the game on a 17-8 run and never looked back, building an insurmountable lead. On 15 points by James Michael McAdoo, 13 points by J.P. Tokoto (a career-high) and a career-tying four 3-pointers by Marcus Paige, UNC built a 37-point lead at halftime. The Tar Heels shot 74 percent for the half.

“We were really good,” head Coach Roy Williams said. “I thought James Michael, J.P., Marcus, all of those guys were really good in the first half. Our defense was good and helped us get the break going. We had some open court situations, and I think that was the whole thing right there. You shoot 74 percent because you’re getting a lot of great shots.”

Tokoto also notched a career-high in assists (in the first half) with four. He ended the game with five. Paige added five as well.

The Golden Grizzlies, who were picked fourth for their inaugural season in the Horizon League, came out firing in the second half, staring with a 12-5 run. Along with sloppy play by the Tar Heels, Oakland cut the lead to 28.

After a time out by Oakland, UNC built the lead back to 34. Oakland outscored the Tar Heels in the second half, 40-26, ending the game with a final deficit of 23.

McAdoo finished with 21 points on 9 of 13 shooting, and Paige ended the night with 14. Tokoto did not score in the second half.

McAdoo was pleased with his performance, feeling like his summer of hard work and finally being healthy are paying dividends.

“Finally feeling 100 percent, my back not bothering me or anything else, no ailments; I just felt good, excited … it’s finally nice to get out here and play the game,” the junior forward said. “Marcus was telling me, keep it going and keep taking my time. I feel that’s something I’ve always struggled with is trying to rush and force things. … I just take my time, try to see the floor, but still try to use my explosiveness. That really takes my game to another level.”